Junior School - Subjects

In the overall educational needs of students the following subjects make a unique contribution to the students' knowledge and awareness of themselves and their world.

• Design Technology Studies

The Design Technology Studio areas are Food, Glass, Metal, Textiles and Wood. Students will investigate and develop design solutions through the particular lens of a material based studio approach. The use of a range of tools and equipment to develop skills and techniques will be undertaken with the consideration of health and safety aspects of the studio and materials used. In Design Technology studio areas investigating, designing, producing, analysing and evaluating are all critical components.

Junior School  Design Technology / Performing Arts / Visual Art  is a two year rotation program.

This rotation program is designed as an introduction to the Design Technology, Performing Arts and Visual Arts areas during the student's first two years at secondary college.  Each subject is of semester duration (half year) for three semesters. The fourth semester (Year 8 Semester 2) is elective based and students will have an opportunity to select their subjects.

Over the two years in junior school students will experience working in most of the following areas: Ceramics, Paint, Drawing, Sculpture, Printmaking, Visual Communication Design, Photography, Wood, Metal, Textiles, Food, Glass, Drama and Music. 

Financial Arrangements

The Education allowance and the materials levy (on the booklist) provide for the purchase of basic Arts and Technology materials but they cannot cover the full cost of some of the materials used.  Therefore, in some areas of study it may be necessary to purchase, or contribute to the cost of, materials and items necessary for the study of Art and Design Technology.   (See individual units of study for further details)

English is a compulsory subject throughout secondary school.

The courses in Years 7 & 8 build on skills in reading and viewing, writing, speaking and listening and provide students with the competence, experience and work habits necessary to successfully continue studies in this subject through secondary school.

Students complete a variety of writing tasks, and are encouraged to read widely, including one major class text per semester.  The set text is usually a novel, but could be a film, poetry or play text. They will also be involved in a range of oral tasks that may include group work, debates and formal speeches.

We read the set text aloud in class.

Reading aloud in class does a number of things:

Helps establish group cohesion and cooperation.

• Students listen to each other read with respect
• Students develop a trust that they will not be mocked by peers for  stumbles and hence develop confidence that they will be supported in their reading.
• Dominators need to sit back as everyone has their turn.

• Allows teachers to respond to immediate points of interest and confusion.
• Though many students will have already read the text, reading aloud shows that the complexities of language allows different interpretations and these can be picked up through readings.
• Students are shown that a close study of text though re-reading allows for richer interpretations.

• Allows teachers insight into individual reading needs:
• Allows teachers to better see gaps in auditory processing
• Opportunity to work on tone and expression.
• Alerts teachers to vocabulary that students stumble over.

• Can recognise how language works to develop character and context.
• Allows for immediate focus on language devices. For example how tone and language changes when a particular character speaks.

• Encourages the development and recognition of oral and aural skills.
• All students know they will be asked to read aloud. It is important that they know that they will be given the opportunity to practise if they want it and that the teacher will select a part of the text that suits their abilities

In Humanities students study human societies, their history, economies, culture an interaction with the natural environment with a particular emphasis on medieval and ancient societies.  Students explore and appreciate the diversity and achievements of human cultures both past and present.  The junior school courses will both undergo significant modifications during the year to accommodate the introduction of the new National Curriculum.

Sustainability is an important focus of our study of society and the world.

We recognise that students need to develop their own sets of values by which to live, but this faculty, in its course content, aims to promote an appreciation of culture, social and individual diversity and to emphasise the value of cooperation, and confidence in one's own opinion. 

Each topic will involve a series of tasks.  Talks, reading, class discussions and note-taking are regular activities.  Students will also work on their own projects, make models, organise group displays, write and act out plays, watch video documentaries and films and go on excursions.

Students may choose to study either Italian or French.

In Years 7 & 8 Italian or French is studied as a core subject for three periods per week.  In Years 9 & 10 students can study these languages as an elective course for four periods per week for the duration of each year.

By studying Italian or French students will be able to develop an understanding and knowledge of a language other than English.  Through the study of the language they will also gain an insight into Italian or French history, culture and geography.  This may increase opportunities for employment in the tourist, government, commercial and educational fields.  It will offer the opportunity to increase the appreciation of a culture different from ours and will be of significant assistance for overseas travel.

Students are expected to maintain a workbook, complete all units of work and homework by due dates, and a variety of class work activities and language assignments on the history, geography and culture of Italy/ France.  Students are also expected to participate in a poetry competition and the ACER Assessment of Language Competence.

There is a New Caledonia study tour open to students studying French in Years 8-11 and an Italy study tour to students studying Italian in Y9-10 organised every alternate year. There is also a France study tour open to students studying French in Y10-11 organised every alternate year to the New Caledonia tour.

Mathematics from Years 7 –10 is taught in compulsory year long courses.

Areas of study

Year 7: Number Systems, Operations with Integers, Geometry, Algebra, Fractions, Decimals, Percentages, Measurement, Probability

Year 8: Operations with Natural Numbers, Directed Numbers, Algebra, Fractions & Decimals, Geometry, Linear Equations & Inequations, Percentages,  Measurement  and Statistics.

Information Technology and other tools

Students employ a range of tools in their work as mathematicians, including scientific and graphics calculators and computer software packages. Years 7 & 8 homerooms each have multiple computer stations connected to the College intranet and classes also have access to several computer laboratories. Class sets of graphic calculators are provided

Numeracy, Maths Assistance and Enrichment

Maths teachers with allocated time and parent helpers are available to assist individual students with their Maths skills development, consolidation and reinforcement both during the school day and after school. Students have the opportunity to participate in a range of co-curricular enrichment activities:

• Maths Games Days
• Australian Mathematics Competition for the Westpac awards
• Mathematics Talent Quest (MTQ)- this is the project assessment task for Semester 1
• Maths Challenge.

Most students in Years 7 and 8 will have one semester of the Junior School Music rotation. In the second semester of Year 8, students will have the option of two music subjects as part of the Year 8 Elective Program. These are "The Band" (performance based), and "Songwriting" (creative/composing based). All students have the option to enrol in instrumental music lessons. Please contact Mel Saunders at musicadmin@phsc.vic.edu.au for further details.

• Junior School Music

In the overall educational needs of students the following subjects make a unique contribution to the students' knowledge, awareness and world awareness:

• Performing Arts

During this course, students will create roles and characters in collaboration with others. Students will develop scripts for their work using basic approaches to script writing.  They will experiment with a range of dramatic forms, styles and conventions such as commedia dell'arte and mime to create dramatic images and convey meaning.  Students will use the rehearsal process to refine their performance.

By the end of the course students will have explored ways to apply appropriate skills, techniques and processes to their structured drama presentations. 

Two Year Program

The course is designed as an introduction to Design Technology / Performing Arts / Visual Art during the first two years at secondary college.  Each subjects is of semester duration (half year) for three semesters; the fourth semester (Year 8 Semester 2) is elective based and students will have an opportunity to select their subjects.

Over the two years students will experience working in most of the following areas: Ceramics, 2D Art, 3D Art (Sculpture), Printmaking, Photography, Visual Communication Design,  Wood Technology, Metal Technology, Textiles, Food Technology, Drama and Music. 

Financial Arrangements

The Education allowance and the materials levy (on the booklist) provide for the purchase of basic Arts and Technology materials but they cannot cover the full cost of some of the materials used.  Therefore, in some areas of study it may be necessary to purchase, or contribute to the cost of, materials and items necessary for the study of Art and Design Technology.   (See individual units of study for further details)

In Year 7 and 8 all students undertake a study in classroom music. Students in year 8 can elect to do more intensive music tuition covering individual and group performance.

• Physical Education, Sport & Health

The course includes topics from the major disciplines of chemistry, biology, physics and earth and space sciences.  A key unifying theme is sustainability education.

Students develop conceptual knowledge. They also develop knowledge of the processes and procedures of science.

They experience practical activities that develop knowledge and skill in design, measurement and data organisation.

Emphasis is placed on applications of science, the work of scientists and links between science and technology.

Students will also have the opportunities to participate in a range of co-curricular activities:

• Science Talent Search
• Science Competition
• Sustainability Programs

In the overall educational needs of students the following subjects make a unique contribution to the students' knowledge, awareness and world awareness:

• Visual Art

Through the various processes of making and exploring, students can realise the contribution that visual art can make to their lives.

Both practical and theoretical activities are offered in Visual Art program to provide the opportunity for students to appreciate and understand the interrelationship between art, and the individual, art and the community, art and culture.

The Visual Art program will provide the following experiences:

1. Practical Activities - to teach students the skills needed for using art materials to develop ways to represent what they see, think, feel, know, value and imagine.
2. Critical Awareness - to help students learn to see the world aesthetically and lead to the desire and ability to enhance their environment.
3. Cultural and Historical Appreciation - to help students understand the arts as an integral aspect of present and past cultures.

Junior School  Design Technology / Performing Arts / Visual Art  is a two year rotation program.

This program is designed as an introduction to Design Technology / Performing Arts / Visual Art during the student's first two years at secondary college.  Each subject is of semester duration (half year) for three semesters. The fourth semester (Year 8 Semester 2) is elective based and students will have an opportunity to select their subjects.

Over the two years in junior school students will experience working in most of the following areas: Ceramics, 2D Art, 3D Art (Sculpture), Printmaking, Photography, Visual Communication Design,  Photography, Wood, Metal, Textiles, Food, Glass, Drama and Music. 

Financial Arrangements

The Education allowance and the materials levy (on the booklist) provide for the purchase of basic Arts and Technology materials but they cannot cover the full cost of some of the materials used.  Therefore, in some areas of study it may be necessary to purchase, or contribute to the cost of, materials and items necessary for the study of Art and Design Technology.   (See individual units of study for further details)

In Semester 2, all year 8 students will have the opportunity to take part in an Elective Program within the Visual Art / Design Technology / Performing Arts curriculum. Students are provided with the opportunity in Semester 1 to specify their preferences for the Semester 2 Elective Program.

• Year 8 Semester 2 Electives